Fillercap and adapter for liquid



Dec. 30, 1952 NOYES Re. 23,611

FILLERCAP AND ADAPTER FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Original Filed June 24, 1948is. .Z.

INVENTOR. f/a weep M0755 Reissuecl Dec. 30, 1952 OFFICE FILLERCAP ANDADAPTER FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Howard Noyes, Dayton, Ohio Original No.

Serial No.

2,524,823, dated October 10, 1950, 34,995, June 24, 1948. Applicationfor reissue October 10, 1951, Serial No. 250,621

8 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: reissue specification;

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe United States Government for governmental purposes without paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a filler cap and adapter for liquidcontainers and particularly for use on aircraft fuel tanks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a flush mountingfiller cap for aircraft fuel tanks embodying efficient sealing means toprevent escape of liquid fuel or vapor. A related object is to provide aflush mounting cap suitable for closing any access opening in anaircraft structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap and cap adapterstructure wherein the cap is sealed in an efficient manner at all timesby the use of resilient gaskets under compression and wherein anyinternal pressure tending to lift the cap does not destroy the sealingaction of the resilient gaskets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler cap and capadapter having an efiicient closing action, having a minimum of weightand including a visual indicating means to show at a glance whether thecap is correctly installed within the cap adapter.

Another object of the. invention is to generally improve theconstruction and operating efficiency of filler caps as used on liquidfuel tanks and other fluid-tight containers.

The above and other objects of the invention will become apparent uponreading the fol-'- lowing detailed description of the invention inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a bottom plan view'of the filler cap and cap adapterconstructed according to present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the filler cap and capadapter taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the filler cap and cap adapter on a reducedscale, and like the other views shows the cap in its closed position.

In aircraft construction the fuel storage tanks merit very seriousconsideration because of the combustible nature of engine fuel. Anelement which is especially important is the tank filler opening and theclosure for association therewith. The closure or cap must notonlyprevent any possible leakage of liquid fuel or vapor to the outsidebut must also resist internal air pressure brought aboutby pressurizingof the 1 appears in the original patent but forms no part of this matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

tank to insure flow of fuel to the engine or to the fuel pump. Thefiller cap should be easily removed and installed and should embodyvisual indication that the cap is properly installed.

For a description of a filler cap and cap adapter possessing manyadvantages reference is now made to the drawing. The adapter and caparrangement includes four principal parts, namely an adapter l, primarycap member 2, secondary cap member 3 and locking or securing pin 4. Theadapter I includes a mounting flange I having a series of bolt holestherein in order to secure the adapter to the top wall of a fuel tankapertured to receive the depending portion of the adapter. The lower endof the adapter is flanged inwardly at 5 and this flange is notched attwo diametrically opposite points, as indicated at 6, so as to allow thelocking pin 4 to clear the lower flange on insertion of the cap memberinto the adapter. Adjacent to one of the notches 6 there is a stopmember I integral with the flange 5. At about from the stop member I,the flange 5 carries an anchor pin 8 having a chain 9 secured theretoand the chain extends at its other end to a ring l 0 surrounding thelocking pin 4. Thus the cap structure comprising members 2, 3 and 4cannot become separated from the adapter, and thereby is prevented fromfalling to the ground during tank filling operations. Near the mountingflange I, the adapter is provided with an annular shoulder ll formingone sealing surface for the cap in cooperation with a soft rubber gasket12 preferably carried on the secondary cap member 3. The gasket i2 ismade of a highly compressible rubber or plastic material and ispreferably made of uni-cellular sponge rubber. As shown in Fig. 2 thegasket [2 is compressed to about one-half its normal thickness. Theunicellular type of sponge rubber available from many manufacturers ispreferred, because the tiny air spaces throughout the material are not;interconnected and such material will not allow seepage of liquid fuelor other fluids. The gasket [2 may in some cases be made in the form ofan endless rubber tube with the central passage having a diameter aboutequal to the wall thickness. The gasket l2 preferably has such acircumference as to require stretching of the rubber in mounting thegasket around the secondary cap member 3, since this Will help to retainthe gasket in assembled relation with respect to the cap member.

The primary cap member 2 includes a circular wall or closure portion l3and a connected hollow post or tubularsection l4 depending from theclosure portion. At the lower end portion of the post I4 there is a pairof diametrically opposite holes of a diameter to receive the securingpin 4. In order to accurately locate the pin with respect to the post I4 the lower side of the pin is notched at 15 so as to receive portionsof the post adjacent to the diametrically opposite holes. The pin may bemade secure after assembly by providing a small welded joint between thepin and the post. In any case the pin 4 will be properly located withrespect to the post M by merely inserting the pin through the oppositeholes in the post until the walls of the post are forced into thenotches by spring pressure exerted by a coil spring presently to bedescribed.

The secondary cap member 3 includes an upper sealing flange 3' adaptedto contact the upper side of gasket l2, which gasket may be cemented orotherwise secured to the flange 3' so as to always stay with thesecondary cap member upon removal of the cap structure from the adapterI. The cap member 3 extends downwardly and inwardly to closely surroundor embrace the hollow post M, on which the member 3 is slidably androtatably mounted. Above its lower end the member 3 flares outwardly atIt and also extends upwar ly to provide an annular space between themember 3 and post M. The lower part of this space narrows gradually andreceives a rubber O- ring l1, having a metal washer l8 and a coil spring19 pressing downwardly thereon. The upper end of the coil spring seatson a washer 29 fitted around the upper end of post id. As may be seen inFig. 2 the spring l9 always tends to force the ring I down into thetapering annular space inside the flared wall portion l6 of cap member3. Also any tendency of the member 3 to be forced upwardly due tointernal fluid pressure will tend to further wedge the ring or gasket l1into tighter engagement with the contiguous portions of cap members 2and 3. The lower end of the cap member 3 .is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposite notches 2|, having sloping sides as shown in Fig.2. These notches always line up with the lockin pin 4 in the openposition of the primary cap member 2, as'will be explained below. It isnoted that the primary and secondary cap members 2 and 3 are slidably aswell as rotatably connected at the central interfitting portionsthereof. Another feature as shown in Fig. 2 is the provision of anundulating lower face on the flange 5 of adapter I, to yieldably retainthe locking pin 4 in a plurality of rotative positions by the action ofcoil spring l9 acting through the post [4 on the locking pin. Bylocating the high point of two opposite undulations at the edges ofnotches 6, the locking pin 4 will always tend to Work itself away fromthe notches rather than toward the notches.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 for an illustration of the cap andadapter as seen from outside the fuel tank or other container. Theprimary cap member 2 is provided with a closely spaced series of scribedgrooves 22 for use in rotating the member by frictional gripping actionexerted either by the palm of the hand or possibly by a rubber shoe wornby an attendant. The lines or grooves 22 form an arrowhead or pointerforma tion as at 22', to indicate by means of the legends closed andopen the relative position of the cap member 2 with respect to the capmember 3 and cap adapter I.

For a description of the manner of using and operating the present capit will be assumed that the parts are in the closed. position as shownin 4 Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The spring 19 functions to force the sealing ringor gasket H into tight engagement with'the contiguous portions of capmembers 2 and 3 and also exerts a downward force on the cap member 3 soas to maintain the gasket 12 under compression. Moreover it is preferredto maintain the spring l9 completely collapsed in the closed position,so that internal pressure tending to lift the cap member 3 off itssealing engagement with the gasket 12 and shoulder II will not result infurther compression of spring !9 and consequent lifting of cap member 3.However some lifting of the member 3 will take place when the internalpressure rises sufficiently, due to compression of the ring H, but sincethe gasket !2 is under considerable compression it will merely expandand still maintains. tight joint between flange 3' a d h ulder l gasketl2 takes place in bringing the cap members to closed position and due tothe nature of gasket i2 this compression mostly compresses or flattensthe air spaces in the gasket without deforming or spreading the gasketlaterally.

For removal of the cap the attendant must exert some downward pressureon the cap memher 2 and at the same time exert a turnin ace tion thereonso as to bring the scribed grooves 22 in line with the legend open. Bypressing downward in turning the cap, the locking pin 4 may more easilypass over the undulations on the lower surface of the locking flange 5.As soon as the arrowhead formation 22 points toward the legend open, oras soon as the locking pin reaches the notches 6, the locking pin 4 isthen free to move into the opposite notches 2| in thelower end of capmember 3. As a result the cap membe! 2 rises up above the surface of theadapter I an amount equal to the depth of notches 2|, under theexpansive force of coil spring 19. This rise is not only an indicationthat the cap is in the open or unlocked condition, but also permits theattendant to grasp the cap member 2 around the edges of the closureportion l3 thereof for removing the cap assembly from the adapter. Thelooking pin 4 is now retained at the bottom of notches 2i with thespring is in an expanded condition and with the lower end of cap member3 extending about even with the lower end of post M.

In replacing the cap assembly the attendant drops the assembly into thehollow adapter with the grooves 22 pointing to the legend open and theends of locking pin 4 will be over the notches 5 of flange 5. Then bypressing down on the cap member 2 and simultaneously turning it in adirection to bring the grooves 22 toward the legend closed the lockingpin 4 is made to pass below the flange 5 and turn into the position ofFig. 1. The downward pressure serves to frietionally retain thesecondary cap member 3 in the position taken upon insertion of the capassembly into the adapter I, so that the locking pin 4 is rotated awayfrom the notches 2| in the cap member 3 as the primary cap member 2 isrotated. Thus it may be seen that the secondary cap member 3 neverrotates on opening or closing the cap assembly and there is no chance ofchafing or tearing the relatively soft gasket [2. While this gasket ispreferably mounted on the cap member 3, it may just as well bepermanently connected to the adapter I in the position shown (Fig. 2) ifthis alternative is preferred.

The filler cap and adapter as described and illustrated embodiesnumerous advantageous features which may be summarized as follows. Thedouble gasket in combination with the two rela- Compression of the Utively movable cap members makes possible an efficient fluid sealingaction. Any tendency for the secondary cap member 3 to lift underinternal fluid pressure will not destroy the sealing action of gasket l2-.because it is a highly compressible gasket, and will not destroy thesealing action of the rubber ring [1 because of the wedging actionexerted by contiguous portions of cap members 2 and 3.. The relativesliding and rotative movement between the members 2 and 3 permits theprimary cap member to extend above the surface of the adapter I when thelocking pin 4 reaches the notches 6, thus serving as a warning that thecap is not secure at any time it is observed that the closure portion l3of member 2 is not down flush with the adapter I. Also the frictiongrooves 22 serve as a further positive indication of the condition ofthe cap assembly by their relation to the legends open and closed.Further the presence of undulations on the lower surface of lockingflange 5 provides greater security, since the locking pin 4 will alwaystend to seek a low point and retain the cap secure even if locking pin 4has not been turned to the final locked position as shown in Fig. 1. Afurther feature which makesassembly of the structure more precise is theprovision of the shallow notches l5 in the locking pin 4. to correctlylocate the pin in the hollow post I4. As the pin is inserted with thenotches l5 facing toward the lower end of post I4, the cap member 3acted on by spring l9 exerts a downward force on the pin. Then when thenotches I5 reach the proper location the spring force causesinterfitting engagement of the notches I5 and wall portions of the postl4. To make the pin secure in the post it is preferred to make a lightweld between the parts at the opposite wall portions of the post M. Thelooking pin 4 is preferably a solid bar of circular cross section butits shape and form may be varied according to choice or circumstance.

It is further noted that the coil spring H! has two important functionsin the completely assembled filler cap. First, it compresses and wedgesthe rubber O-ring I I into tight engagement with the flared wall portionl6 and the adjac'ent central post l4. Second, it exerts a constantinward force on the secondary cap member 3 which thus causes compressionof the soft gasket l2 between the flange 3 of member 3 and the annularshoulder llof the adapter I. Any lifting of the secondary cap member 3by the action of internal pressure is limited by the extent to which thespring l9 may collapse and by the extent to which the O-ring I! mayfurther compress. However as noted above the spring I9is preferablymaintained completely collapsed in the closed position of the cap, sothat lifting of the secondary cap member by internal pressure will belimited by the further compression of ring l1. Thus it is seen that thering I! should be niade of a yieldable material which is lesscompressible than the material of gasket I2, so that the sealing actionat the gasket I2 will be maintained. It is especially noted that nobending of the locking pin 4 is possible to allow further lifting of thecap structure, because the pin is purposely made very rigid.

The embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are to beregarded as illustrative only and it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variations, modifications and changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I 1'. In a fluid storage container having an open- 6 ing formedin one wall to provide access to the interiorthereof, an adapter securedin said opening and having an inwardly extending cylindrical wallportion terminating in a notched circular flange, a circulargasket-seating shoulser on said cylindrical wall portion facing towardthe outside of said container, a primary cap member having an outerdisk-like wall portion adapted to be received within said adapter inflush relation with respect to the outer end thereof and having aninwardly extending post centrally thereof, a transverse locking pin atthe inner end of said post adapted to pass below said notched circularflange and on rotation of said primary cap member being adapted to beretained below said flange by locking contact therewith, a secondary capmember slidably embracing said inwardly extending post outwardly of saidlocking pin and having a peripheral gasket-seating flange adapted tocontact a resilient gasket also engageable with said gasket-seatingshoulder, an outwardly flared wall portion on said secondary cap memberadjacent to said post, a resilient ring lodged in the annular spacebetween said outwardly flared wall portion and said post and engagingsaid wall portion and post along its outer and inner edges respectively,and a coil spring around said post between said ring and said disklikewall portion of said primary cap member to compress said ring axiallyand also force it into wedging relation between said outwardly flaredwall portion and said post.

2. In a fluid storage container having an opening formed in one wall toprovide access to the interior thereof, an adapter secured in saidopening and having an inwardly extending cylindrical wall portionterminating in a notched circular flange, a cylindrical gasket-seatingshoulder on said circular wall portion facing toward the outside of saidcontainer, a primary cap member having an outer disk-like wall portionadapted to be received within said adapter in flush relation withrespect to the outer end thereof and having an inwardly extending postcentrally thereof, a transverse locking pin at the inner end of saidpost extending laterally on opposite sides thereof and being adapted topass below said notched circular flange and on rotation of said primarycap member being adapted to be retained below said flange by lockingcontact therewith, a secondary cap member slidably and rotatablyembracing said inwardly extending post outwardly of said locking pin andhaving a gasket-seating flange adapted to contact a resilient gasketalso engageable with said gasket-seating shoulder, means providingopposite notches at the inner end of said secondary cap member toreceive opposite end portions of said locking pin in the unlockedposition thereof and thus allow elevation of said disklike wall portionas an indication of the unlocked condition of said locking pin, anoutwardly flared wall portion on said secondary cap member adjacent tosaid post, a resilient ring lodged in the annular space between saidoutwardly flared wall portion and said post and engaging said wallportion and post along its outer and inner edges respectively, and acoil spring around said post between said ring and said disk-like wallportion of said primary cap member to compress said ring axially andalso force it into wedging relation between said outwardly flared wallportion and said post.

3. In a fluid storage container having an opening formed in one wall toprovide access to the i e io e e n ada e s ure 13 sa d w re ing andhaving an inwardly extending cylindrical wall portion terminating in anotched circular flange, a circular gasket-seating shoulder on saidcylindrical wall portion facing toward the outside of said container, aprimary cap member having an outer disk-like wall portion adapted to bereceived within said adapter in flush relation with respect to the outerend thereof and having an inwardly extending post centrally thereof, atransverse locking pin at the inner end of said post adapted to passbelow said notched circular flange and on rotation of said primary capmember being adapted to be retained below said flange by locking contactthere-. with, a secondary cap member slidably embrace ing said inwardlyextending post outwardly of said locking pin and having a peripheralgasketseating flange adapted to contact a resilient gasket alsoengageable with said gasketeseating shoulder, an outwardly flared wallportion on said secondary cap member adjacent to said post, a coilspring around said post between said outwardly flared wall portion onsaid secondary cap member and said disk-like wall portion of saidprimary cap member, and said coil spring being completely collapsed whensaid cap members are installed and said locking pin is below saidnotched circular flange so that lifting of said secondary cap member byinternal pressure in said container will be held to a minimum.

4. In a fluid storage container having an opening formed in one wall toprovide access to the interior thereof, an adapter secured in saidopening and having an inwardly extending cylindrical wall portionterminating in a notched circular flange, a cylindrical gasket-seatingshoulder on said circular wall portion facing toward the outside of saidcontainer, a primary cap member having an outer disk-like wall portionadapted to be received within said adapter in flush rela: tion withrespect to the outer end thereof and having an inwardly extending postcentrally thereof, a transverse locking pin at the inner end of saidpost extending laterallylon opposite sides thereof to the same extentand being adapted to pass below said notched circular flange and onrotation of said primary cap member being adapted to be retained belowsaid flange by locking contact therewith, a secondary cap memberslidably and rotatably embracing said inwardly extending post outwardlyof said locking pin and having a gasketeseating flange adapted tocontact a resilient gasket also engageable with said gasket-seatingshoulder, means providing opposite notches at the inner end of saidsecondary cap member to receive opposite portions of said locking pin inthe unlocked position of said locking pin wherein said pin coincideswith the notches of said notched circular flange and thus allowelevation of said diskelike wall portion as an indication of theunlocked condition of said locking pin, an outwardly flared wall portionon said secondary cap member adjacent to said post, and a coil springaround said post between said outwardly flared wall portion on saidsecondary cap member and said disk-like wall portion of said primary capmember,

5. In a fluid storage container having an opening formed in one wall toprovide access to the interior thereof, an adapter secured in saidopening and having an inwardly extending cylindrical wall portionterminating in a notched circular flange, a circular gasketeseatingshoulder on said cylindrical wall portion facing toward the outside ofsaid container, a primary cap member haviri an outer disk-like wallportion adapte n e rece ed w n a d i a 'e fl h, nati with respect to theouter'end thereof'and having an inwardly extending post centrallythereof, a rigid transverse locking means at the inner end of said postprojecting'on opposite sides thereof and adapted to pass below saidnotched circular flange and on rotation of said primary cap meme, 9??- bi l a pted to b re a ne e ow 55 n by locking contact therewith, acircular secondary cap member slidably mounted on said post between saidtransverse locking means and said pri- F i cap me e a a i i eral 351ket-seating flange outwardly of said gasket-' seatr ing shoulder, acompressible circular gasket be.- tween said gasket-seating flange andsaid gaskete seating shoulder, a compression coil spring mounted on saidpost to bias said secondary cap member away from said primary cap memberand with l the: cap members installed within said adapter and" saidlocking means below said notched circular flange said spring beingadapted to compress said gasket between said gasket-seating flange andsaid gasket-seating shoulder, a resilient sealing ring closelysurrounding said post and pressed by said spring into engagement with anadjacent portion of said secondary cap mem her to prevent leakage offluid between said post and said secondary cap member, and said springbeing completely collapsed when said cap membersare installed and saidlocking means below said notched circular flange so that internalpressure onsaid secondary cap member can decompress said gasket only tothe extent that said sealing ring can be further compressed by move:ment of said secondary cap member toward said primary cap member.

6. In a combination of elements as recited in claim 5, said compressiblegasket being made of uni-cellular sponge rubber and said resilientsealing ring being made of rubber whichis less compressible than that ofthe compressible gasket. '7. In a fluid storage container having an pe?ing formed in one wall to provide access to the interior thereof, anadapter secured in said open- 13 nd having an w r xt n n cyl drica wallportion terminating in a notched circular flan e, a circulargasketgseating shoulder on said cylindrical wall portion facing towardthe outside of said container, a primary cap member having an outer disklike wall portion adapted to be' received within said adapter in flushrelation with respect to the outer end thereof and having an inwardlyextending post centrally thereof, a rigid transverse locking means atthe inner end of said post projecting on opposite sides thereof andadapted to pass below said notched circular flange and on rotation ofsaid primary cap member being adapted to be retained below said flangeby locking contact therewith, a circular secondary a membe stea y d' otab u fon said post between said transverse locking means and saidprimary cap'member and having a pcripheral gasketrseating flangeoutwardly of said gasket-seating shoulder, a compressible circulargasket between said ga keteseating flange a d said gasket-seatingshoulderaa' compression coil spring mounted on said post'to bias saidsecondary cap member away from said primary cap member and with the capmembers installed within said adapter and said'locking means below saidnotched circular flange said spring being adapted to compress saidgasket between said gasketsea ins v leri ve a d said ask zs afing sho la. resilient sealing ring closely surrounding said post and pressed bysaid spring into engagement with an adjacent portion of said secondarycap member, and means providing clearance between said locking means andthe inner end of said secondary cap member to allow elevation of saiddisk-like wall portion when said locking means is located in registerwith the notches of said notched circular flange by action of said coilspring to thus indicate the unlocked condition 01' said locking meansand said cap members.

8. In a fluid storage container having an opening formed in one wall toprovide access to the interior thereof, an adapter secured in saidopening and having an inwardly extending cylindrical wall portionterminating in a notched circular flange, a circular gasket-seatingshoulder on said cylindrical wall portion facing toward the outside ofsaid container, a primary cap member having an outer disk-like wallportion adapted to be received within said adapter in flush relationwith respect to the outer end thereof and having an inwardly extendingpost centrally thereof, a rigid, inflexible transverse locking pin atthe inner end of said post adapted to pass below said notched circularflange and on rotation of said primary cap member being adapted to beretained below said flange by locking contact therewith, a secondary capmember slidably embracing said inwardly extending post outwardly of saidlocking pin and having a peripheral gasket-seating flange adapted tocontact a resilient gasket also engage"- able with said gasket-seatingshoulder, the top surface of said flange member being opposed to Cir theedge of said primary cap member, an outwarly flared wall portion on saidsecondary cap member adjacent to said post, a coil spring around saidpost between said outwardly flared wall portion on said secondary capmember and said disk-like wall portion of said primary cap member, saidcoil spring normally urging said primary cap member into open position,said coil spring being collapsed when said cap members are installed andsaid locking pin is below said notched circular flange so that saidgasket is compressed against said gasket-seating shoulder, and saidprimary cap member being forced into open position when said locking pinis rotated into engagement within said notched portion of said circularflange.

HOWARD NO-YES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,786,721 Reid Dec. 30, 19301,887,700 Stevens Nov. 15, 1932 2,316,507 Dykeman Apr. 13, 19432,346,723 Brown Apr. 18, 1944 2,395,695 Summers Feb, 26, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 337,470 France 1903

